Onchocerciasis in Ecuador: Prevalence of Infection on the Ecuador-Colombia Border in the Province of Esmeraldas

Guderian, Joy R; Anselmi, Mariela; Espinel, Mauricio; Sandoval, Carlos; Cooper, Philip J.; Rivadeneira, Gonzalo; Guderian, Ronald H.

doi:10.1590/s0074-02761997000200005

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…This is further confirmed by the negative results of a rapid epidemiologic assessment carried out in the Canton San Lorenzo in Ecuador, 10 just across the border from where the present study was carried out.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.

Corredor¹,

Nicholls²,

Duque³

et al. 1998

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. To assess the current epidemiologic status of onchocerciasis in Colombia two surveys were undertaken in 1995 in a suspected new focus on the border between Colombia and Ecuador and in the known focus located on the Micay River. No new focus was found along the Colombia-Ecuador border. In the known focus, communities along the upper Micay River and its tributaries were surveyed; 655 adults underwent physical examinations and skin biopsies. Infected individuals were found almost exclusively in the community of Naiciona, where prevalence of infection was 40% (36 of 91). Polymerase chain reaction detection of onchocercal DNA in skin snips correlated with the skin-snip biopsy results. The prevalence of punctate keratitis, the only ocular manifestation found, was 33%. A rapid entomologic assessment demonstrated Simulium exiguum infected with Onchocerca volvulus. This is the first finding in Colombia of naturally infected black flies and confirms S. exiguum as a vector species. These data will be used for implementing a control program using periodic ivermectin distribution.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.

Corredor¹,

Nicholls²,

Duque³

et al. 1998

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…The present population on the Cayapas River consists primarily of two groups: Chachi Amerindians (also known as Cayapa) and Afro-Ecuadorians. In the area covered by this study, both groups had populations of about 1,600-1,700 in the early 1980s (Guderian et al, 1983). Chachi oral tradition states that they migrated into Esmeraldas Province from the highlands north of Quito a t about the time of Spanish conquest, first settling on the upper Santiago River and only later moving into the area they presently inhabit (Barrett, 1925).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Early childhood growth of Chachi Amerindians and Afro-Ecuadorians in Northwest Ecuador

Stinson

1996

Am. J. Hum. Biol.

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This study compares the growth of Chachi Amerindian and Afro‐Ecuadorian children living in the tropical forest of northwest Ecuador. Measurements of height and weight were taken on 148 Chachi and 148 Afro‐Ecuadorian children under 5 years of age. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds, arm circumference, chest circumference, and sitting height were measured on a subsample of children. Socioeconomic information was collected from the households of 145 children, and a general socioeconomic index was derived. Afro‐Ecuadorian children are substantially taller than Chachi children, with significant differences in height for age z‐scores in most age groups. On the other hand, Chachi children tend to have greater weight for height z‐scores, with significant differences in some age groups. The greater weight for height of Chachi children may be related to their larger trunks. Estimates of body composition suggest that Afro‐Ecuadorian children may have somewhat better nutritional status than Chachi children, but this does not appear to fully account for the greater height of Afro‐Ecuadorian children. The socioeconomic index is positively correlated with all anthropometric dimensions, but even after controlling for the socioeconomic index, Afro‐Ecuadorian children are significantly taller than Chachi children. These findings raise the possibility of genetic differences in growth potential between the two groups. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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“…In this same year the possibility of a second transmission focus in the rural area of Tumaco, on the border with Ecuador, was ruled out [15]. This was further confirmed by the negative results of a rapid epidemiologic assessment carried out in Ecuador in 19 communities along or adjacent to the Mataje River which forms the border between Colombia and Ecuador [16]. Thus, it was concluded that onchocerciasis in Colombia was confined to the single focus of Lopez de Micay, specifically to the village of Naicioná, on the Pacific Coastal Plain of the country, along the Micay River basin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Elimination of onchocerciasis from Colombia: first proof of concept of river blindness elimination in the world

et al. 2018

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BackgroundOnchocerciasis is a chronic parasitic infection originally endemic in 13 discrete regional foci distributed among six countries of Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela). In Colombia, this disease was discovered in 1965 in the Pacific Coast of the country. The National Onchocerciasis Elimination Program was established in 1993 with the aim of eliminating disease morbidity and infection transmission. In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) verified Colombia as free of onchocerciasis, becoming the first country in the world to reach such a goal. This report provides the empirical evidence of the elimination of Onchocerca volvulus transmission by Simulium exiguum (s.l.) after 12 years of 6-monthly mass drug administration of Mectizan® (ivermectin) to all the eligible residents living in this endemic area.MethodsFrom 1996 onwards, a biannual community-based mass ivermectin administration programme was implemented, complemented by health education and community participation. In-depth parasitological, serological and entomological surveys were conducted periodically between 1998 and 2007 to evaluate the impact of ivermectin treatment according to the 2001 WHO guidelines. When the interruption of parasite transmission was demonstrated, the drug distribution ceased and a three-year post-treatment surveillance (PTS) period (2008–2010) was initiated.ResultsAfter 23 rounds of treatment, parasitological and ophthalmological assessments showed absence of microfilariae in skin and anterior chamber of the eyes. Serological tests proved lack of antibodies against O. volvulus in children under 10 years-old. A total of 10,500 S. exiguum flies tested by PCR had no L3 infection (infectivity rate = 0.0095%; 95% CI: 0.0029–0.049) during 2004, indicating interruption of parasite transmission. However, biannual ivermectin treatments continued until 2007 followed by a 3-year PTS period at the end of which 13,481 flies were analyzed and no infective flies were found (infectivity rate = 0%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.014).ConclusionsThese results fulfilled the WHO criteria for onchocerciasis elimination. Consequently, in 2013 Colombia was verified as free of onchocerciasis, demonstrating that elimination of this neglected tropical disease is an achievable goal and paving the way for an elimination agenda to be followed by other endemic countries in Latin America and Africa.

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Onchocerciasis in Ecuador: Prevalence of Infection on the Ecuador-Colombia Border in the Province of Esmeraldas

Abstract: The prevalence of onchocerciasis infection was determined in communities on

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.

Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.

Early childhood growth of Chachi Amerindians and Afro-Ecuadorians in Northwest Ecuador

Elimination of onchocerciasis from Colombia: first proof of concept of river blindness elimination in the world

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